Upper Ninja Conference

Chiba Genichi took time out of his schedule to entertain a challenge from Minato Namikaze, who had recently mastered the Flying Thunder God.

Genichi entered Sage Mode to sharpen his reflexes and avoid any embarrassing mishaps, then unleashed his Magnet Release to defeat him with ease.

"I never expected you to have mastered Magnet Release as well, Genichi," Minato panted, sighing in amazement.

Indeed, despite their close relationship, this was the first time Minato had seen Genichi use Magnet Release. Ninjas naturally prioritized intelligence security, and only the trio and Orochimaru had been aware of this capability.

Given Genichi's current strength, Magnet Release was no longer a hidden trump card, so he decided to take this opportunity to bring it out into the open.

When he had first learned Magnet Release, it served primarily as a support tool in battle. Later, Genichi discovered that while in Sage Mode, the range, intensity, and sustained combat capability of his Magnet Release were quite impressive, so he had prepared several sealing scrolls filled with Iron Sand to carry with him.

Once Minato caught his breath, Genichi said, "The jonin meeting is about to start; let's head over together."

Reflecting on Minato's performance in their spar, Genichi decided to put learning the Flying Thunder God technique on his agenda. Although his own speed was already immense in actual combat, rendering the technique unnecessary for movement, the Flying Thunder God was a true space-time displacement ability with significant strategic value. It was a case of "better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it."

The Third Hokage's Flying Thunder God could even traverse different dimensions.

Of course, he was referring to the third user of the Flying Thunder God, the "Third Hokage" of the technique—Boruto Uzumaki.

They entered the Hokage Building and arrived at the meeting room.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was already seated at the head of the table, while the gloomy and stern-faced Shimura Danzō sat in the position of Hokage Advisor. The two consultant elders, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, sat on the other side of the Hokage, silent as statues.

Lifeless, Genichi thought as he looked at the four of them, then silently lamented to himself, How can Konoha ever thrive when led by such vermin?

It didn't take long for all the available jonin in Konoha to arrive at the meeting room.

"Now, I declare this jonin meeting officially open," Sarutobi Hiruzen said once everyone had gathered.

After reminiscing about the past, addressing the present, and looking toward the future, over half an hour passed before they finally reached the main topic.

"It has not been many years since the end of the Second Ninja World War, yet the pro-war factions in various nations are rising again. According to reports from our intelligence network, I fear the next war is not far off," Sarutobi Hiruzen stated in a low, heavy tone.

"How can that be?" "How long has it even been since peace was established?" "If they want to fight, let them! Konoha is the strongest ninja village."

"Silence!" Shimura Danzō shouted, cutting off the murmuring crowd.

Sarutobi Hiruzen continued immediately, "The Second Ninja World War ended abruptly with the withdrawal of Amegakure. I fear many were unsatisfied with that outcome; this coming conflict will likely be a continuation of the last."

"Konoha does not fear any ninja village, but they often collude in the shadows to weaken us. To prepare for the next war, I propose that students in the ninja academy graduate early to adapt to combat sooner, preventing unnecessary sacrifices in the coming conflict."

"I object!" Before anyone else could react, Chiba Genichi slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and shouted, "I also graduated early from the academy and was sent to the front lines in the Land of Rain. Where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire burns on. To protect the village and my comrades, I have no regrets."

"But I also know clearly how dangerous the battlefield is. How can we force children who aren't even ten years old to face such things?"

"The falling leaves burn to fuel the fire, and the light will continue to illuminate the village, allowing new leaves to sprout. This means the youth are the hope of the future; the older generation must trust and protect them."

"Lord Hokage, you are revered by the Ninja World as the 'God of Shinobi,' a 'Professor of Ninjutsu' who has mastered all five elemental chakra natures and every jutsu in Konoha. What enemy could possibly be your match? Why must you send those children to face the cruelty of the battlefield?"

"The First Hokage's original intention in founding this village was to ensure children would not have to slaughter one another as they did during the Warring States period. This is the Will of Fire. Have you forgotten it?"

The jonin of Konoha couldn't help but nod; as long as the Hokage was still here, there was no need to send children under ten to the front lines.

Danzō stood up: "Silence! Since its founding, Konoha has been coveted by all nations; we are surrounded by enemies on all sides. The Hokage must remain at the rear to oversee the big picture. What would a mere jonin like you understand? A ninja's duty is to obey orders..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and held up a hand to stop him: "Enough. Genichi is also acting out of concern for the village."

When Chiba Genichi was young, Sarutobi Hiruzen had thought highly of the boy—he was sharp-witted, exceptionally talented, and a fine successor to the Will of Fire. It was just that the Will of Fire burning in his heart had now grown so intense that it was scorching Hiruzen himself.

The truth was, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no desire to go to the battlefield. Before he took the mantle of Hokage, the Second Hokage had lost his life in war. His teacher—so powerful, wise, and skilled in forbidden jutsu, a master of the Flying Thunder God—had died so easily on the battlefield, almost right before his eyes. It was a memory that filled him with dread.

Later, after returning to the village and truly taking on the heavy burden of the Hokage, having sat in the seat of power for so long and enjoying the authority it brought, Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to go to the battlefield even less. There were so many other ninjas in the village; there was no need for him, the Hokage, to put himself in danger.

"Since that is the case, we shall table this proposal for now and move on to the next agenda," the Third Hokage decided, choosing to delay the issue.

Genichi, meanwhile, had maintained his persona in front of the jonin of Konoha, bolstering his own prestige and laying the groundwork for his future bid for the Hokage seat.

Today, he had lifted Sarutobi Hiruzen up high so that, in the future, he would fall all the harder. At the same time, he truly did not want those children to go to the battlefield to throw their lives away for nothing; they were, after all, the future strength of Konoha.

I will protect Konoha. I will protect my Konoha. —Chiba Genichi